Irma Stefanova

Why Personal Blogs Can Never Really Survive Monetization

Are you a personal style blogger? Do you blog about your life in hopes of making it in the “big time?” It sounds amazing, like do a job you love and never work a day in your life, and you love your life… but in reality, blogging about yourself has a real cost. This weekend The New York Times wrote a trend piece titled “When Blogging Becomes a Slog” about a pair of DIY bloggers who burned out, “A tricky thing to avoid as a full-time blogger, considering that the Internet never sleeps, readers want fresh content daily.” Of course writing a post every day is one thing, but writing a daily post where YOU are the center of the blog’s universe is another. Here is why:

The rate of which people consume media is faster than the rate of which you consume fashion.

I’ve heard people say… “Oh, you don’t have to have new clothes every time you post.” But the reality is, you do have to have a new outfit every time you post. Realistically, how many people wear outfits different enough from each other to warrant a post? I’m saying this as I’m wearing a button down and jeans. I wear a button down shirt and jeans or sweatpants basically every day. For the last two years. Most people who have a signature style also wear a uniform, it is great when you have it, but it’s also interesting for one or two posts.

If your life is busy enough to be “Interesting” chances are, it’s also too busy to maintain a blog.

If you have a fabulous life, great! But between all those parties, spa visits, shopping trips, and of course your life… when are you going to blog? Blogging does take work and it does take energy, so you’ll need a lot of energy to balance both blog and fabulous life.

There will be times when your life is a mess.

No one’s life is perfect all the time. If your life is the subject of your blog, even if what you’re wearing is the subject of your blog, there will be times when your life is turned upside down. You won’t feel like dressing up. Do you share your sweatpants and hoodie with your readers as you hide under the covers?

There will be times when your life is “Boring.”

I LOVE when my life is boring. Boring in other people’s opinion anyway. Give me an iPad, a comfy sofa, and a bowl of guacamole and I’m happy as a clam. I’d chose that night over any night out on the town. That said, it doesn’t make for interesting outfits or blog content.

Even if you love a brand, talking about it “Authentically” will always seem inauthentic to your readers.

No matter how much you LOVE working with brands, or how much you love a particular brand you work with… sponsored content will always be taken with a grain of salt by your readers. It won’t fair as well as your “editorial content.”

Your friends and family may come to resent that your life has become your job.

Does your significant other roll their eyes when you won’t let anyone eat before you photograph and tag the brunch on social media? Does your friend stand there awkwardly when you have to take a million photos to get that perfect selfie for your Instagram? Does everyone in your life say, “Don’t put that on your blog!” This may happen. And if it does… you’ve blurred the lines from life to blog, and it’s time to draw some boundaries.

YOU, your life, will be open to criticism by strangers.

Most of all, when you blog about yourself, you’re putting YOU out there for strangers to judge. Most 99% of the time it’s good. But there will be times when people will judge, say they don’t like what you’re doing, or what you’re wearing and you will have to be tough enough to live with that judgement.

Your life will become your job.

Going for a brunch? Better share that with your readers on Instagram! Going on vacation? Better post your pics. Have a baby? Better share your new baby’s wardrobe! Meet another blogger for lunch? Better tag them on Facebook! Your readers will want to know, and even if do keep elements your personal life private, there will be times when the lines are blurred between life and blog.

For better or worse, personal blogging is wonderful when it’s authentic, but no one can be “authentic” every day, forever. It’s even harder when your product is your authenticity which is free and you have to sell it to your readers. Some people have done a wonderful job with sharing authentic opinions while making a living, but they are, sadly, in the minority.

(Image credit: Shutterstock.com)

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